Promoter Frank Warren says Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are “the two best heavyweights of the 21st century”.
Musana heritage
However, that's hard to believe, as Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) doesn't have the resume to back up that claim. In fact, the eye test shows he's not even among the fifth best current heavyweights in the division.
Tyson was just an over-the-top, carefully packaged undertaking. If you look at Fury's resume, there's nothing there to suggest he's even among the top 20 heavyweights of this century. Put him with some of the most talented contenders of this era or the past, and he'll be on a tear.
If you look back when the 21st century started, a lot of heavyweights would have beaten Fury if he had fought them from 2001 to 2012. This century started in 2001.
Heavyweights in the twenty-first century:
– Vitali Klitschko
– Lennox Lewis
– Wladimir Klitschko: *Young version from 2001 to 2009
– Corey Sanders
-Shannon Briggs
-Martin Bacoli
– Moses Itoma
-Joseph Parker
– Chili Zhang
-Anthony Joshua
– Bakhodir Jalolov
-Daniel Dubois
-Jared Anderson
Fury would have lost to most if not all of these heavyweights. You can only imagine what South Africa is like Corey Sanders Fury could have done with those left hands. The version of Sanders that knocked out Vladimir in the second round in 2003 would have made Fury's job easier. The Gypsy King was left on the canvas in a pile of broken flesh.
Shallow victory list
The Gypsy King's career was essentially built after beating 39-year-old Wladimir in 2015, and it wasn't even an impressive performance. He barely overpowered the gunner who shot Klitschko. From there, Fury made a gold mine, thanks to careful matchmaking.
Fury's best wins:
Wladimir Klitschko: *39 and over the hill
Deontay Wilder
Dillion White: *A journeyman
Derek Chisora: *Same as above
Otto Wallin
Francis Ngannou: *0-0 rookie
Steve Cunningham: *Cruiserweight
Christian Hammer: Fringe contender
Kevin Johnson: *A journeyman
“He's one of the greats and certainly him and Usyk are the two best heavyweights of the 21st century, that's for sure,” Frank Warren told Sky Sports Boxing about Tyson Fury. “Look at the great fights they had. Both fights, both were unbelievable. No matter who you think won them, they were unbelievable fights.”
“It takes two fighters to have great fights. Tyson is up there with all the great names you can name. He did everything you could ask of him. He was never on a dull ride. All those fights that you look back on, they were classic, dramatic fights,” he said. Warren: “The drama in these fights is amazing,” and he seemed to exaggerate a bit in his praise of Fury.
“One of the greats!” 🙌 Frank Warren talks about Tyson Fury’s retirement announcement 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/WHGzAAr3KC
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) January 13, 2025
